Always a Stand-In

ie's

red the phone. My heart pounded so

was

d she

rt of me wanted to believe it was just a cruel joke. A

ep inside me whi

sn't

't just a c

knew Daniel. And sh

my rounds mechanically, checking vitals, giving instr

h h

h h

again. The way she had spoken so c

one of my nurses calle

nked.

saying your last patient has arri

Right, o

d the room, pushing the door open with a

died in

oman who looked too put-together for an emergency visi

of cold, fa

een before, yet so

said smoothly. "I figured

ath hi

was

n from t

el's

blankly at the reports in front o

ldn't

er last

ook Sophie gave

something

g out of ways to

ed to call her. To check if she was okay. To hear h

I di

hat I was doing

ed up another n

g twice befor

ena's voice came through, smooth

hand over my face. "L

pa

"Oh, so you know alr

on the phone. "T

I just wanted to introduce mys

aw. "Stay away

raid she'll figu

ce stretched

Oh, darling. She's a

ie's

myself to

bre

I wasn't cru

ice steadier than I expected. "You fak

oo smart for this. I didn't fake anything. I jus

"And why would you

smile. "Because I thought you

my throat. "And w

rd, resting her

nd isn't as loya

d. I held my ground. "And

se, sweetheart, he's been

n twisted i

l her she was insane. Tha

coul

wasn't sur

u, you know. He'll keep lying, keep pretending. And you? Y

ted

saying-but because deep down, I

ng just at the door. "I'l

n she w

but her perfume and t

, gripping the steering wheel so

past like ghosts. My thoughts were everywhere, tang

t, he's been keepin

believe sh

ve Daniel would n

e this morning. The way he left me in bed last

that, the do

ady there. The house loomed in front of me, its warm l

heart hammering in my chest

for the answe

had no

ked i

el's

he front door open,

the counter, inhaling d

t lately. Different. A

e

d some

had to fi

ng room, I expected her usual wa

d at the doorway, h

I couldn't tell wh

you're home. How

ond. Then she walked past me,

on

yful remarks about how she needed c

t l

rept into

ew som

ying to keep my voice s

r a moment, it felt like she

ed that s

aniel," she said

ie's

oing to co

t

hout mo

nto his familiar blue eyes, I

him to

truth woul

d see the pain on my face. "

a pause. "I'll make

upstairs, my stomach

the hot water, hoping it would wash away

d erase Lena's v

ou know. He'll keep l

that

een lying to

st trying to

d to

find out

how much

el's

my drink as I w

was act

No screaming, no accusa

could

sh

hing that used t

air and pulled out my pho

to end

it was